[Albion] Age restrictions at Amex?

[Cotton Socks]

My 12 year old went with his mate for Villa at home, they did get dropped off though so the whole travel thing wasn’t an issue. He has been going since 5 so I wouldn’t have worried with them getting a train or bus either. Palace, Leeds or Chelsea might be a different matter though, and Villa was a 3pm, not sure I’d be so sure for anything later than that.

There’s more danger of a twat hitting them driving while texting while they’re walking to school than anything going to the Amex could throw at them, and he does that twice a day.

Yes, I forgot about KO times. 3pm OK (depending on oppo) but late KO it's no from me. My jnr has been going since 5 as well but until he pays for his own ticket... he's stuck with me!

 

[Cotton Socks]

I wouldn’t let a 12 year old on a bus by themselves unless it was a school bus only for children at a particular school driven by a driver employed by the school . Like the Brighton College minibuses you see in town .

That's a bit extreme, imo. Also depends on what school year the 12 year old is in? Year 7 or 8? And obviously the trustworthiness of the child and the company they keep.

 

[Bodian]

Blimey. I went unaccompanied to my first game at the Goldstone age 11. With my 11 year old mate and our 8 year old brothers. That may well have warped my tiny mind. If my parents were alive today I would now be tempted to report them to the police.

First went in late 1977 with an older relative, by early 1978, when I had turned 12 - it was me and my same aged schoolmates. For the Blackpool game in May with 32,000 others I was in the NE stand on my own (not on my own you understand - but I had gone without accompaniment) - can't remember where my mates were on that day. I cycled there and back along the Old Shoreham Road from Southwick for the following few years, sometimes meeting up with some mates, sometimes not.

Looking back, I'm absolutely astonished I was allowed to do so - given all the issues and trouble at football in the late '70s / early 80s.

However, I wasn't 'allowed' to away games. Not until the semi-final.

 

[Bodian]

I wouldn’t let a 12 year old on a bus by themselves unless it was a school bus only for children at a particular school driven by a driver employed by the school . Like the Brighton College minibuses you see in town .

I was catching the 37 home from St Mary's school to Southwick from the age of 9 onwards. And occasionally, we'd walk home along Manor Hall Road and spend the penny we had saved by not catching the bus on chocolate cheroots at the newsagents on the County Boundary.

Never a problem.

 

[tronnogull]

First went to the Goldstone on my own at age 10. Went to every game in the season we were promoted from Div 4. I used to carry a stool in to the ground and stand on it at the front wall on the half way line on the East terrace.

Also walked to Connaught Road infants school, aged 6 or 7. I lived on the other side of Sackville road on had instructions to ask an adult to see me across the road.....

 

[Eeyore]

I’m 51. Maybe I’ll get a transfer one of these days and show you geriatrics how it’s done, while considerably bringing down the average age.

Unfortunately I can no longer smuggle in a flask of Sanatogen. Will a bag of coke do instead?

I've told Margaret and Ethel about your pending transfer. Much excitement. Ethel needed a stiff whisky after I showed her your wedding photo. 'Are they still together ?' she asked. I said you were happily married but she seems to have turned carefree in her old age. Arthur seemed to show a lot of interest too, but keeps quite as he's as married to Gladys....

If you go to the ESU it's a carry on riot. Noreen has only just been allowed back after waving her undies in the air after Mac's Leicester free kick.

 

[jackalbion]

Unaccompanied 15 Y/Os can only lead to one thing, prison

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

First went in late 1977 with an older relative, by early 1978, when I had turned 12 - it was me and my same aged schoolmates. For the Blackpool game in May with 32,000 others I was in the NE stand on my own (not on my own you understand - but I had gone without accompaniment) - can't remember where my mates were on that day. I cycled there and back along the Old Shoreham Road from Southwick for the following few years, sometimes meeting up with some mates, sometimes not.

Looking back, I'm absolutely astonished I was allowed to do so - given all the issues and trouble at football in the late '70s / early 80s.

However, I wasn't 'allowed' to away games. Not until the semi-final.

Ah, you’re the same age as me, I made my debut “on my own” at the QPR pre season friendly at the start of the promotion season, and that was that. It didn’t take long for away matches to follow as (although I was from a loving family) it was a generation that “went out in the morning and came back when they were hungry” so by the time I was 14 a London match was no big deal.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Ah, you’re the same age as me, I made my debut “on my own” at the QPR pre season friendly at the start of the promotion season, and that was that. It didn’t take long for away matches to follow as (although I was from a loving family) it was a generation that “went out in the morning and came back when they were hungry” so by the time I was 14 a London match was no big deal.

Thought it was normal back then, lots of lads went to matches with mates at an early age, I was also going to gigs age 14.
I went out more in my early teens than I do now.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I spoke to a work colleague a while back who couldn't believe that I was walking to school on my own by the age of seven. If I had turned up at Junior School accompanied by my Mum it would have been the ultimate humiliation. 'Mum, I'm EIGHT for crying out loud. This is so embarrassing'

I walked to school, on my own , crossing the Old Shoreham Road to Locks Hill at that age.
From 11, I caught a normal bus route from Trafalgar Road to the bottom of Neville Road by myself.
But, I didn’t go to football until I was 12/13, with my Dad, and stood on the East terrace. I didn’t go on my own until I was working at 16 because up until then, my pocket money was 1/- a week, and bus fares were 10d, so I couldn’t afford it.
There was a waiting list for paper rounds, and the only one I got was a holiday relief for my friend, delivering the Evening Argus.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Walking to the Goldstone from Mile Oak with a couple of mates, certainly from 1st year of senior school (11) and walking to ABC minors in Portland road and getting bus to Benfield Junior School on my own years before that. Just the way it was

I remember my kids insisting on walking to Westdene Junior school on their own at 8 & 10 and they always walked to senior school on their own, so maybe it is still the way it is

 

[Eeyore]

I love the way this has turned into the Four Yorkshireman sketch.

'Going to the Goldstone on your own at 7. You were tied t' apron strings. I was born at twenty to three on a Saturday. I cut the cord, slapped the midwife, nicked an ambulance, then parked up int south west corner. I were there by the time the teams walked out'

 

[Brovion]

I was 13 when I was going in the North Stand with my school mates. I knew there’d be someone who trumped that

Ha! I first went to the Goldstone in 1966 when I was 8. I wasn't on my own of course, I was with some of my new school friends (I'd just moved to Lancing when my parents got divorced). Obviously a group of 8 year olds couldn't go unaccompanied on a train to a football match so my mum was pleased we were also going with some older boys .... who were 9.

Different era.

 

[dazzer6666]

I've told Margaret and Ethel about your pending transfer. Much excitement. Ethel needed a stiff whisky after I showed her your wedding photo. 'Are they still together ?' she asked. I said you were happily married but she seems to have turned carefree in her old age. Arthur seemed to show a lot of interest too, but keeps quite as he's as married to Gladys....

If you go to the ESU it's a carry on riot. Noreen has only just been allowed back after waving her undies in the air after Mac's Leicester free kick.

 

[Comrade Sam]

My brother in law is a Leicester fan and tried to buy tickets for himself, wife and 6 and 9 year olds, for the Brighton game. He was asked on the internet to enter the children's ages and it said his youngest was too young to attend - in the family stand. He's bloody livid. I think I'd have lost it as for both my girls first games they were less than a year old.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

My brother in law is a Leicester fan and tried to buy tickets for himself, wife and 6 and 9 year olds, for the Brighton game. He was asked on the internet to enter the children's ages and it said his youngest was too young to attend - in the family stand. He's bloody livid. I think I'd have lost it as for both my girls first games they were less than a year old.

There’s obviously some sort of error here as in the Ts &Cs link in the opening few posts it explains how kids under 18 months (I think it says) can sit on a lap. There is no lower age limit if they are accompanied

Edit: is he referring to the upcoming match at “Filbert St” ?

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

I love the way this has turned into the Four Yorkshireman sketch.

Nowadays it may well be a job for @DHOTYA
however for those of us that were there I can assure you these recollections seem totally feasible to me.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Walking to the Goldstone from Mile Oak with a couple of mates, certainly from 1st year of senior school (11) and walking to ABC minors in Portland road and getting bus to Benfield Junior School on my own years before that. Just the way it was

I remember my kids insisting on walking to Westdene Junior school on their own at 8 & 10 and they always walked to senior school on their own, so maybe it is still the way it is

Oh no, you went to Benfield.

St Nicks was much better.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Oh no, you went to Benfield.

St Nicks was much better.

St Nicks infants before I saw the light

 

[BNthree]

My brother in law is a Leicester fan and tried to buy tickets for himself, wife and 6 and 9 year olds, for the Brighton game. He was asked on the internet to enter the children's ages and it said his youngest was too young to attend - in the family stand. He's bloody livid. I think I'd have lost it as for both my girls first games they were less than a year old.

My youngest had a season ticket in the family stand aged 6. Brother in law must have made a typo or is very thick.